Malwarebytes Antivirus Review 2025: Is It Worth the Hype?

Malwarebytes is a solid antivirus program that received a perfect score in our in-house testing. Its free version includes antivirus scans and malware removal tools and the paid plans add phishing protection, a VPN, and even identity theft protection.

Malwarebytes may fall short compared to other antivirus programs because it lacks a firewall and network protection. But you can bundle Malwarebytes with other antivirus programs for more comprehensive protection. 

We'll cover Malwarebytes's cost, features, test results, and more so you can make an informed decision about your antivirus protection.

Overview

Price	$44.99–$232.49/yr
# of devices protected	1 - 20
Malware scans	Free version: Manual scans only Premium version: Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection	Yes
EICAR test results	3/3
Firewall	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Extras	VPN, identity theft protection
24/7 customer support	Yes
Details	Get Malwarebytes

We last tested Malwarebytes on August 27, 2025.

Our experience

Our experience with Malwarebytes Premium was largely a pleasant one, featuring an easy-to-use interface and fast scanning capabilities. We tested Malwarebytes on a laptop running Windows 11 and a MacBook running macOS Sequoia. 

We ran multiple virus scans, and the Quick/Threat Scans were always completed in less than 20 seconds. Although the Deep Scan took over 20 minutes this time, we could still browse without our computer feeling sluggish.

Quarantining and then deleting the flagged files requires just a click of the button. Honestly, everything about navigating the Malwarebytes dashboard was easy. 

If you’re a Mac user and want more than a quick scan option, consider a macOS alternative like Avast. Currently, Malwarebytes doesn’t offer a Deep Scan for macOS. 

You also won’t get a firewall with this software on Mac or Windows, which could be a deal breaker if you're seeking network protection.

Who is Malwarebytes best for?

• Recommended for people who want a quick and efficient antivirus program.

If you want to protect your device with minimal impact on its performance, Malwarebytes may offer the right level of security you’re looking for. 

While it may not have all the bells and whistles that an antivirus program like Norton offers, Malwarebytes does have a regularly updated database, which provides you with more security because it can detect the latest malware threats. It also offers deep malware remediation, identifying and removing any lingering malware artifacts.

When you install Malwarebytes, you can opt for the free version, which includes the basic on-demand scanning feature, or the paid plans, which provide ongoing threat protection. The paid plans start at $44.99/yr and cover only one device, making it less cost-efficient than other antivirus software on the market.

Malwarebytes cost

Malwarebytes price ranges from $44.99–$232.49/yr. Your price depends on your plan tier, subscription length, and number of devices you want covered (hence the wide price range). 

You can get the free version of Malwarebytes if all you want is on-demand scanning and virus removal.

When you need other features, such as scheduled scans and real-time protection, you should opt for Malwarebytes Plus or Malwarebytes Ultimate. The Malwarebytes Plus plans come with the Privacy VPN, while the Malwarebytes Ultimate plans include identity protection and data removal. 

Premium plans for one device start at $44.99/yr, and can become as expensive as $119.99/yr. This is much more expensive than services like Bitdefender, which starts at $34.99/first yr, and TotalAV, which starts at $19.00/first yr. 

	Malwarebytes Free	Malwarebytes Standard	Malwarebytes Plus	Malwarebytes Ultimate
Price per month	Free	$44.99/yr	$59.99/yr	$119.99/yr
# devices supported	1	1 – 20	1 - 20	1 - 20
Manual and auto scan	Manual only	Manual and auto scan	Manual and auto scan	Manual and auto scan
Ransomware protection
Phishing protection
Real-time protection
Ad blocker
VPN
Identity theft protection
Data removal
Details	View plan	View plan	View plan	View plan

Malwarebytes Premium features

When you upgrade to a premium Malwarebytes plan, you can expect a few more features to really sweeten the deal. Here are the main things to be aware of.

Malware and antivirus scan

Both Malwarebytes Free and Malwarebytes Premium versions have a couple of manual anti-malware scans. You can run a Quick Scan, which scans your memory and startup options, or a Deep Scan for a better analysis of your device. You can also choose specific folders and files to scan with a Custom Scan.

The Scheduled Scans feature is highly customizable, offering hourly, daily, and weekly scan options.

Note that Malwarebytes for macOS only has the Threat Scan option, which is like a quick scan. 

Phishing protection

Malwarebytes Premium offers phishing protection, but the free version is designed for regular cleanup functions that other antivirus software may miss.

You get phishing protection if you download the Malwarebytes Browser Guard extension. It successfully warned us of our test phishing site while allowing us to easily bypass it if a false positive was detected.

Real-time protection

Malwarebytes Premium does come with real-time protection, which covers four protection layers:

• Web protection: Protection from online scams, phishing sites, and ransomware sites
• Malware and PUP protection: Protection from malware, viruses, adware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and other cyberthreats
• Ransomware protection: Protection from ransomware, which locks you out of your device and files
• Exploit protection: Protection from malware that uses bugs and vulnerabilities in a system for hacking

The Real-Time Protection feature is simple to use and enabled by default. If you want to customize the settings, simply go to your Protection settings tab:

Ransomware protection

Ransomware protection is included in Malwarebytes Premium. Malwarebytes searches for ransomware while scanning for viruses, Trojans, and other malware.

As with viruses and malware, if ransomware threats are found, you’ll receive a report asking if you want to remove them. Once you confirm you want to remove the threats, Malwarebytes will clean them up and restore your privacy to the previous security level.

Bonus features

There are three bonus features available with Malwarebytes, depending on the plan you choose.

• The Malwarebytes VPN is included with the Plus plan, providing access to over 150+ servers servers across 34+ countries countries.
• Identity theft protection is included with the Ultimate plan, providing dark web monitoring, credit reporting, and $2 million in identity theft insurance.
• The Personal data remover is also included with the Ultimate plan, and can delete your information from search results, spam lists, people search sites, and more. 

Malwarebytes test results

To ensure products perform at the expected level, we conduct a series of in-house tests and enlist the help of trusted third-party testers to evaluate Malwarebytes's performance in real-world scenarios.

Scan speed

• Result: Average

We tested Malwarebytes' scan speeds on our PC laptop and our MacBook. Malwarebytes only has a Threat Scan on the macOS app, hence why we tested on both operating systems.

Scan type	Time spent
Quick Scan (Windows)	9 seconds
Threat Scan (macOS)	14 seconds
Deep Scan (Windows)	21 minutes, 45 seconds

Both the Threat Scan and the Quick Scan on our PC took less than 20 seconds to complete. The Deep Scan took over 20 minutes, which is slower than we've come to expect from Malwarebytes, but it wasn't detrimental to our device performance. 

EICAR test results

• Result: 3/3

The European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research (EICAR) provides a series of helpful tools to test whether your antivirus is working properly. Many of these tools are safe files that are made to appear malicious, so any properly functioning antivirus software would protect you from them.

We put Malwarebytes to the EICAR test, and it performed beautifully, coming in with a perfect 3/3 score.

Test	Malwarebytes score
Malware detection	Pass
Drive-by malware downloads	Pass
Phishing pages detection	Pass

The first two tests are different ways a website can trick you into downloading malicious files. In both cases, Malwarebytes blocked the downloads immediately.

After we bypassed the block manually, the Malwarebytes Browser Guard extension blocked us from accessing the page. It also successfully blocked the phishing page.

AV-TEST results

• Result: Middling and outdated results, especially on Android

AV-TEST is a leading third-party antivirus testing agency that rigorously tests all of the popular antivirus software. Although Malwarebytes was not included in its most recent test cycles, it has been previously tested on both Windows and Android platforms.

Test type	Windows score	macOS score	Android score
Protection	5.5/6	N/A	5/6
Performance	5.5/6	N/A	6/6
Usability	6/6	N/A	3/6
Total	17/18	N/A	14/18
Date	October 2023	N/A	July 2020
Link to test	Link	N/A	Link

While the scores Malwarebytes received aren't the worst, especially on Windows, we would prefer to see a perfect score — especially when it comes to your security online.

On Windows, Malwarebytes scored a 98.4% in Protection, which is less than the industry average of 99.2%. The good news is that Malwarebytes has caught up with its October score, which has reached the industry average of 99.2%.

It received the same overall score in performance, primarily due to being 6% to 10% slower in installing frequently used apps and launching standard software during the scan.

The Android test was a different story altogether. It actually had much higher scores than the industry standard in protection, coming in at 98.9% compared to 96.9%. This was an older test conducted in July 2020, so we wonder if AV-TEST is less stringent in its scoring nowadays.

But it did only okay in usability, which measures how many false positives the software finds. Malwarebytes came up with a total of three false positives in its test, which is exactly the industry average.

Finally, Malwarebytes was never tested for its Mac tools, which may indicate less emphasis on its macOS program. This isn't necessarily a knock against them, since third-party testing is expensive.

AV-Comparatives test results

• Result: Improved and recent protection scores, but still has some outdated results

AV-Comparatives is another leading and trusted antivirus testing company. Malwarebytes has gone through all four of its main tests, though it's been a few years now.

Test type	Mobile security	Real-world protection	Malware protection	Performance impact (Lower is better)
Score	99.3%	99.5%	99.51%	17.3
Platform	Android	Windows	Windows	Windows
Date	May 2022	February - June 2025	March 2025	April 2025
Link	Link	Link	Link	Link

While all these scores look good on paper, Malwarebytes actually came mid-to-last place on all but the real-world protection test:

• Mobile security: Came in 10th place with seven false positives (compared to the 0 that the top-ranked products flagged).
• Real-world protection: Came in second place and tied with several programs like Avast, Norton, and Trend Micro. The top place went to Bitdefender, which scored a 99.8% protection rate.
• Malware protection: Came in 10th out of 13 places. The top-rated software was Kaspersky, which received a perfect 100% score.
• Performance impact: Came in 11th out of 18 places. The top place this round went to McAfee, which only impacted performance by 2.6 points.

SE Labs results

• Result: 91%

Finally, SE Labs is the last third-party test site on our list. Based in the U.K., SE Labs releases quarterly antivirus performance reports for both consumers and enterprises.

The last time Malwarebytes was tested was in the first quarter of 2021.

Test type	Home Anti-Malware Protection
Total accuracy rating	91%
Date	2021 Q1
Link	Link

Unfortunately, Malwarebytes came dead last in this test, with the first-place software coming out with a perfect 100% score. While Malwarebytes' Legitimate Accuracy Rating was a respectable 98%, its Protection Accuracy Rating was significantly lower, at only 78%. 

Malwarebytes compatibility

You can use Malwarebytes Premium on any of these devices and platforms:

• Microsoft Windows
• macOS
• Chromebook
• Android
• iOS (iPhone, iPad)

You won’t have trouble finding a system or device that’s compatible with Malwarebytes. You can also use it with another antivirus software, which could be a bonus if you’re being extra cautious about online security. You also get access to its advanced antivirus protection with the Browser Guard extension.

Malwarebytes customer support

Malwarebytes has a support page with various options to address issues you may be experiencing, including billing, installation, adding devices, and requesting a refund. There is also a chat function available for you to ask questions and receive automated answers.

If you ask the bot to connect you to a live agent, it'll oblige. We were connected relatively quickly, but didn't receive a helpful answer.

We asked them about the phishing protection features Malwarebytes offers, as their pricing page advertises that all product levels include this feature. The agent didn't have an answer and just sent us a link to a help guide talking about general phishing protection.

Since we tested the phishing protection of their Browser Guard extension and knew it worked, we expected them to point us in that direction. Instead, it was obvious they didn't know what to do when not asked a question from their script.

Top alternatives

Malwarebytes has its strengths, like top (albeit outdated) third-party test scores for Windows. However, it's not the best antivirus software for macOS, and other antivirus solutions offer a more competitive first-year price. 

We've tested dozens of antivirus software and recommend TotalAV as a solid, budget-friendly antivirus suite. We also recommend McAfee for families because it boasts unlimited device protection, a rare feature. Our #1 pick overall is Norton due to its advanced security suite, demonstrated performance, and reasonable price points.

Malwarebytes FAQs

Bottom line: Is Malwarebytes good?

Yes, Malwarebytes is good, but not the best. We found Malwarebytes to be a good and extremely fast antivirus tool, with some improvement in its third-party test scores. When you want something that won’t take much time and focuses on removing malware and other online threats, Malwarebytes may be the perfect choice. 

If you’re looking for antivirus and web protection that offers more cybersecurity features, check out our list of the best antivirus software for more options.

Or if you like to compare antivirus side-by-side, check out some of our in-depth comparison articles:

• TotalAV vs. Malwarebytes
• AVG vs. Malwarebytes
• Aura Antivirus vs. Malwarebytes
• Norton vs. Malwarebytes
• McAfee vs. Malwarebytes
• Bitdefender vs. Malwarebytes
• Avast vs. Malwarebytes